Contributed by: FuckYouOiOiOiFuckYouOiOiOi(others by this writer | submit your own)Published on November 27th 2005This was the first NOFX CD I bought. If I hadn't bought the Punk-O-Rama comp a week later, I might never have bought another NOFX CD again.
Not that it sucks, it was just pretty fucking bad at first, and really hard for someone who's just getting into punk to listen to. But, after I listened to .

This was the first NOFX CD I bought. If I hadn't bought the Punk-O-Rama comp a week later, I might never have bought another NOFX CD again.

Not that it sucks, it was just pretty fucking bad at first, and really hard for someone who's just getting into punk to listen to. But, after I listened to all the essentials (White Trash..., Punk in Drublic, The Decline, ...Valuum, etc.) I went back and listened to this and loved it.

There is a huge difference between this and modern NOFX albums. It's not melodic; just fucking fast, hardcore punk with some metal riffs thrown in. Mike couldn't sing for shit and this is hilariously evident in "Truck Stop Blues." The lyrics, for the most part, are laughably simplistic, and the subject matter is fucked when you compare it to modern NOFX. They speak out against peace punks in "Piece" and veganism in "Vegetarian Mumbo Jumbo" and "Shut Up Already," the latter of which features the simple yet true line:

If a big animal had the chance
It wouldn't take another glance
It would eat you up.

But even with all the differences there are obvious similarities that reminds us this is, after all, NOFX. First of all, the album title, like the majority of NOFX album titles, is a pun. And, like every NOFX CD, there is one song dedicated to getting a laugh. This comes in the form of "A200 Club," where Mike delightfully sings "I got crabs;" fucking hilarious shit. There is a drug/alchohol song with "Beer Bong". There are 'political' songs like "Freedumb" and "You Put Your Chocolate in My Peanut Butter," which I suspect is about cops and has the line, "There's no justice / there's just us / so trust us." And of course, no NOFX CD would be complete without puns. This is no exception, and the best pun is in "Mr. Jones" (about heroin):

I can't seem to live without you
Without you, what's the point?

The album is very interesting to listen to and see how they've evolved as a band. It's not something that will stick with you after you've listened to it, and it's not a great hardcore CD by any means, but it will capture your attention for the time it is on.

It's interesting listening to NOFX back when they were staunchly anti-everything and strayed away from politics. I love this era of NOFX the best, because of their brand of hardly unique trashy hardcore. It shows no remorse and it's not for the faint of heart or anyone who grew up on the watered down NOFX from '92 onwards. I wish NOFX would make another album like this again...I think they've raped enough money from the system to let us know they "really feel".

"Its like if you signed up for a descendents 7 inch club and every song was a throwaway song about food or farting."

honestly, i enjoy those songs the best. they're hilarious.
not everyone wants to hear songs with serious subjects all the time.

and also - if you're bitchin about the price of the 7 inch of the month club, you're a fucking moron. do you not realize that a significant portion of the money you paid goes to shipping? they have to ship one of those out every month... and it adds up.

anyway.. i think the songs are quality NOFX. i'm very glad i signed up and i've enjoyed every 7" so far.

On the cover of The Decline there is a boy flying a plane. This boy appears to be the same boy who is playing with a toy plane in the movie Pink Floyd: The Wall. Ironically, the boy and his toy plane first appear nearly 18 minutes into the movie, which also is almost the exact running time of The Decline. Play The Decline to the first 18 minutes of The Wall and you'll see what happens! I asked NOFX about this on their official website in the Q&A section, but I don't expect them to answer it (you know how those guys are). I figured instead of using lyrical puns (as they do on most albums), this time they decided to do a visual pun (which apparently makes fun of the pink floyd/wizard of oz connection).

Anyone know if this is true?

goddamn, i haven't watched the wall in 10 years....but that's awesome....i'd try to synch it up right now but i dont own the movie

Anonymous (December 1, 2005)

"Ironically, the boy and his toy plane first appear nearly 18 minutes into the movie, which also is almost the exact running time of The Decline. "

Neither irony nor a visual pun, if such a thing exists.

$72 is alot of money for people who cant afford ipods and dedicate a whole days pay to a 7 inch club.

On the cover of The Decline there is a boy flying a plane. This boy appears to be the same boy who is playing with a toy plane in the movie Pink Floyd: The Wall. Ironically, the boy and his toy plane first appear nearly 18 minutes into the movie, which also is almost the exact running time of The Decline. Play The Decline to the first 18 minutes of The Wall and you'll see what happens! I asked NOFX about this on their official website in the Q&A section, but I don't expect them to answer it (you know how those guys are). I figured instead of using lyrical puns (as they do on most albums), this time they decided to do a visual pun (which apparently makes fun of the pink floyd/wizard of oz connection).

Anyone know if this is true?

Anonymous (November 30, 2005)

Hi Everyone this is Lindsey Nagle, Spokeswoman of the New Wrap Supersuper-Star MC Skinhead Rob Aston. I'm reporting from beautiful downtown Fresno, the festering sore of sunny California and home of New white Wrapper Kevin "Daddy K-Fed" Federline.

MC Skinhead Rob had this to say about the re-issue of the NOFX Liberal Animation, "Yo! I sold Drugs! I sell drugs! Don't you hear me! Drugs! Drugs!"

We caught up with Parris Mitchell Mayhew of New York Hardcore legends Cro-Mags, he had this to say, "You're not going to hurt me,right? Dude I'd rather take another beating from Harley Flanagan or John Joseph than to hear another album where they slowed down the vocal track to make the white guy sound black. But what does that have to with NOFX? Oh shit, there's Harley, gotta run!"

$72 is not a lot of money for a fan to spend to hear rare material by their favorite band. You can make $72 in one day. And I really don't understand what everyone is complaining about, those songs are good and most of them aren't joke songs, they're about real things. "I am Going to Hell...", "No Fun in Fundementalism", "Fungus/I am a huge fan of Bad Religion", "Leaving Jesusland" are all really good songs and "You're Wrong" and "Benny Got Blowed Up" are amazing.

Anonymous (November 30, 2005)

all the 7 inches are online in some form if you just look for them.

$6 a 7 inch is insane. I dont know if many of the people who signed up actually had record collections before, but for that price I would have expected more.

The quality of the 7 inch songs are on average basically joke songs. It sounds like Mike is just putting random observations from the day he realized it was the new month on tape then recording the first harmony they can think of. I have no problem with liking a NOFX song, but these songs are all pretty bland, undeveloped, and well, tired.

Its like if you signed up for a descendents 7 inch club and every song was a throwaway song about food or farting. Great a few times an album, once every month for a year, not so much.

Puns and having a lock on a production sound can only go so far. Mike could sing the phonebook with a simple 3 note harmony, as long as it had that production value and was put forward like we're all just having fun not taking each other seriously, it sounds like everyone would swallow it and they'd get paid for it.

Which is great for them, more to em, but is that really what you want to uphold as some type of suggested music?

wyzo

Anonymous (November 30, 2005)

Wow, hey umm...so I guess that whole punkvoter thing worked huh? Who is the fucking dumbass now? You listened to some dude just because he can hold an instrument and sing retarded into a mic!

I don't really like the band and I've never heard the album. But there's nothing wrong with changing your views to something you think is better. I only hope that most people are willing to change for the better....if not, then why should we hope for a better world at all???

PS - If you still listen to NOFX and you are over the age of 15, consider yourself to be immature and undeveloped mentally.

yup, pretty much exactly why i like them, though i'm just immature, not all that underdeveloped. and there's plenty of people not in those categories that like them too. not to mention that's one of the stupidest things i've ever seen written here.

remember guys, after you turn 16 you're no longer punk and cannot listen to many bands. PUNX IS FOR TEH YOUTHZ!

Changing your ideals to the times, thats punk rock! Fat mike is a horrible musician, if you could call him that. Legions of 15 year old brats with pimples will continue to buy NOFX albums. Is there any justice in the world?

PS - If you still listen to NOFX and you are over the age of 15, consider yourself to be immature and undeveloped mentally.

NOFX owns Fat Wreck Chords and they release their records on Fat Wreck Chords (the only reason they released on Epitaph was because of a contractual obligation since before Fat even existed). That is the very definition of DIY- Do it Yourself. And as far as the whole vegan thing goes, people change as they get older.

Anonymous (November 29, 2005)

The anti-vegan/vegitarian thing was like 15 years ago he's obviously changed his mind since then. And in that song he was saying that in the character of Tim Yohannan. didn't mean he felt that way. either way this is a good album that i like to listen to every once in a while.

Fat Mike's always been a fucking hypocrite. The whole anti-vegan/vegetarian thing, then becoming a vegetarian himself. Writing lyrics like "put records out DIY" despite being a profit making indie label owner himself. What a dick, but at the same time, you gotta love him.

I do like it but I'm a huge NOFX fan. If I gave it 4 stars everyone would be bitching and I know that the album, overall, doesn't deserve 4 stars. But I do enjoy listening to it from time to time and I saw that it didn't have a review. So, I reviewed it.

Anonymous (November 28, 2005)

Punk is no talent.

Anonymous (November 28, 2005)

Why the fuck would you take the time to write a review of a 15 year old album that you didnt really like? What a fucking douche bag.

Secondly, this album is decent. Not anywhere near The Decline or White Trash.., but Beer Bong is a sweet song.

Third, the songs are supposed to be simple, clever, fast punk rock. What exactly are you fuckers looking for who use that as a criticism???

Anonymous (November 28, 2005)

I heard they suck live.

hahahahahahahaha

Anonymous (November 28, 2005)

These fat asses suck at music.

Anonymous (November 28, 2005)

"Getting High On The Down Low" is on the Rock Against Floyd compilation, but I got that by ordering shit from FAT

I loved the growth of NOFX in the old albums from MRR to this to S&M airlines they grow by leaps and bounds. I think they peaked at Ribbed - that will always be my favorite NOFX album. Keep in mind that a lot of shit they were doing back then was pretty original - this speedy poppy fusion of punk and metal licks - which became staple for all of 90s fat wreck punk.

To the guy below talking about Descendents Mississippi Nights video, that's a classic show. Especially because the spell Descendents wrong (with an A). Around that time Bill was doing both Black Flag and Descendents so it's reasonable that Milo and Rollins might have some similar influences too.

Everyone calling NOFX talentless are fucking retarded. Listen to those guitar solos and riffs that hefe and melvin play. listen to the ultra-fast drum beats in Pump Up the Valuum. Listen to the witty lyrics (Bleeding Heart Disease comes to mind). Listen to the perfectly constructed 18-minute masterpiece The Decline. Anyone who calls them talentless have obviously never played an instrument or attempted to write a song in their lives.

White Trash, Two Heebs and a Bean is still their best cd and a punk-rock masterpiece.

Anonymous (November 28, 2005)

"Paying 6 bucks for 2 new songs on a limited colored vinyl from such a great band every month for a year is awesome."

Dude, the day I spend $6 on ANY modern, easy to find 7" is the day I sell my fucking gonads to science. I can see shelling that kind of cash out for the fucking "Downsided" 7" on clear, but really...nofx? Its gonna be on a CD in year anyway!

whats not punk about this description. i guess maybe the hack part but...eh

- ElectricPettingzoo

Anonymous (November 27, 2005)

Agreed...talentless hacks playing really simple punk songs and somehow were on the forefront of punks voting in 04.

Anonymous (November 27, 2005)

Worst "punk" band of the last 20 years. How can anyone get into this type of stuff?

Anonymous (November 27, 2005)

This is a great album, it's so bad that it's great. Then again it's not bad. just great. The songs show a lot of potential, and a lot of talent musically it is a great steppingstone album from Maximum rock and roll to their newer stuff. And all you who don't wanna buy the 7 inches, fuck you. fuck you. Paying 6 bucks for 2 new songs on a limited colored vinyl from such a great band every month for a year is awesome. I got it, it's bitchen so if you want it...fuck off. 4 of the bast songs are gonna be on the record anyway. also some aren't that great, so if you're not even hard-core enough of a fan to buy it, you're not hard-core enough of a fan to like it.
Josh E

Anonymous (November 27, 2005)

this album sucks. anyway, i can upload some of the 7"s to you. set up a gmail account so i can send them there and write your email address. in this review. just make your post stick out.

Anonymous (November 27, 2005)

does anyone know where i can get the 7 inch songs without paying an exorbitant amount of money to NOFX?

i've tried soulseek and bittorrent but i can only get like 4 songs doing it those ways.

I've always wanted to get into NOFX, but it just never works. They're stopping by Cleveland in February, but I was considering going just to see The Lawrence Arms and The Loved Ones. NOFX sadly feels sort of generic after a while. There's some really good songs scattered here and there (my favorite used to be "All Outta Angst"), but overall they're sorta meh.

A pretty disappointing release, I have to concur with the reviewer that if this was my first NOFX release, I'd probably have been turned off the band for good. Luckily almost everything since then has been great.

I wouldn't consider Valium one of their 'essentials'. Ribbed is though.

...evildeadalive

Anonymous (November 27, 2005)

Off topic....but I got something funny to share........I was just watching an old Descendents bootleg video called "Live @ Mississippi Nights 1987" and it's really cool.....but it's funny because at the time Milo was trying to copy Henry Rollins Flag stage presence, right down to the long hair and the wierd movements....which look cool when Hank does them....but look kind of funny here. You guys should check it out.

the crazy thing is that it was actuallly released by a real label. and it certainly shows all us folks in bands that you don't have to be pumping out good shit from the start. that's what i really love about NOFX. they put it all out there. you can hear how bad they really blew and how much better they got.

i was just listening to S&M airlines on an old tape yesterday and thinking "man some of this really sucks, but it's still so much better than liberal animation"